Sunday, October 25, 2015

5 Ways to improve your mood and decrease anxiety without medication

It's almost November, and for those of us in the northern hemishere, that means short days and grey skies, especially if you live in Vermont, which I (thankfully) do. Short days and grey skies, in turn, have a deleterious effect on mood--and that means for everybody, not just the approximately 1/3 of people at northern latitudes who meet the criteria for Seasonal Affective Disorder. It seems timely, then, to write a post about the best ways to boost mood without medication.

1) Get your ass moving: I could write an entire thesis on the mood effects of Exercise (fortunately for your moodI won't) but it would take too long and I want to go hiking later this morning. Suffice it to say that exercise causes your body to release endorphins, a chemical that has the effect of reducing stress, boosting mood, and decreasing the perception of pain. The best part about endorphins is that, unlike morphine to which endorphins are related, they don't engender addiction or habituation. Hot Damn!! Talk about the perfect drug! And it's naturally produced and free--all you need is a pair of hiking boots (or running sneakersor swim trunks or a rowing machine, etc.) If that's not enough to get you headed to the gym, exercise is also a proven way to boost self-esteem, and the sense of the well-being that comes from regular exercise is an independent promoter of good mood.

2)Into the arms of Morpheus: It wasn't until I became a resident physician that I came to understand the importance of Sleep. Well, I wasn't getting any (minimum 80 hour work weeks and TWO kids, both born during my residency) and Man, Oh Man was it an effort to keep my spirits up. Every once in a while, Morpheus would toss two or three nights of good sleep my way and the effect on my mood and spirits (not to mention my irritability index) was dramatic. I don't want toput you to sleep<grimaces from bad pun> with the medical literature on the subject, but suffice it to say that studies documenting the link between sleep and mood are rife and irrefutable. Take home message: Turn your damn computer off (after you finish this article and share it with your friends) and shut off the lights. zzzzzzzzzzz

3)Hit the Lights: As I referenced above, light has a lot to do with mood. I think most people would agree with this, but the issue is: What the heck can I do about it, other than move to Southern California? (And who can afford to do that?) Well, in the mode of killing three birds with one stone, why don't youskip lunch (we'll talk about the role of food and mood next) and go for a walk: Exercise, daylight, and fresh air all at once. Talk about being in a good mood. If you simply can not get outside for the natural stuff, buy a bright light, and use it every day for at least 1/2 hour.

4) You are what you eat: To all of you people who rely on M&Ms (yes, me...) to get you through the day, this one is for you. While there is no doubt that Skittles gives you a boost when you chomp a handful (Just ask Marshawn Lynch) you have to realize that the boost is very short term. The big spike in blood Sugar you just got from eating that whole bag of circus peanuts (substitute Gummi Bears, Candy Corn, Jelly Beans, etc,) leads to a big spike in insulin, which then drastically lowers your sugar levels, making you feel like a nap is the best idea in the world. Even worse, fluctuating blood sugarplays havoc with the levels of serotonin in your brain, deleteriously affecting your mood. Plan: Stay away from simple carbs, such as sweets, juices, sodas, sugars, etc.

5)Get Unplugged: The data is undeniable. Too much Screen Time causes depression, increased anxiety, irritability and loss of focus. Although the studies have been done mostly on children and teens(brains in formation) there is good evidence to suggest screen time has similar effects on adults as well. I can't imagine this surprises you, and it begs the question: How much is too much? This is still being worked out, and is probably the area where the distinction between formingbrains and formed brains is most important. Keep something in mind: the frontal lobe (the area of the brain where decision making and judgment happen) doesn't stop forming until at least 25 years of age. So turn off the TV, take a walk instead; put away the X-Box, play Scrabble; Shut down the laptop, read a book instead (I can find the opportunity for shameless self-promotion anywhere).

Peter Hogenkamp is a practicing physician and author living in Rutland, Vermont. Peter's writing credits include ABSOLUTION, the first book of The Jesuit thriller series; THE LAZARUS MANUSCRIPT, a stand-alone medical thriller; andTHE INTERN, a novel loosely based on Peter's medical internship, excerpts of which can be seen on Wattpad. Peter can be found on his Author Website as well as his personalblog, PeterHogenkampWrites, where he writes about most anything. Peter is the founder and editor of Prose&Cons, the literary
blog for readers and writers written by authors, editors, agents,
publishers and poets; a frequent contributor and reviewer at ReadWave; the founder and moderator of groups on Facebook (The Library), Google+ (Fiction Writers Anonymous); and the chief of two tribes on Triberr, The Big Thrilland Fiction Writers.Peter tweets--against the wishes of his wife and four children--at @phogenkampvt and @theprosecons. Peter can be reached at peter@peterhogenkamp.com or through his literary agent (Liz Kracht of Kimberely Cameron & Associates) at liz@kimberleycameron.com.

3 comments
:

I have two elliptical bikes in my office and stop here and there for a daily workout(s). In the nice weather I love my walks, but now it's easier to hop on the bikes (fondly nicknamed "the beasts"). But it's so hard to cut down on screen time. I'm working on it, though.

Great, timely article - thanks for these great tips, Peter! I'd be curious to hear what other writers like for mid-afternoon munchies. Some of my favorites include roasted almonds, unsweetened coconut chips, peanut butter-stuffed celery, organic carrots, and Babybel cheese.